Bryant University - School of Business Administration

Bryant University's MBA program is "designed with working professionals in mind," according to the school, and students report that the school definitely lives up to this reputation. The "structured part-time program [makes] it easy to balance the rigors of graduate study with the reality of maintaining a full-time job," one student explains.

The part-time MBA at Bryant is structured as a cohort program, "where students are accepted to the school as a class and move through the entire program together." Students complete all core courses as part of a single team (although "some professors allow teams to change members") before "becoming separated in electives." Most students find the cohort system a huge plus, saying it promotes "a lower dropout rate, better student interaction, and deeper relationships and networks with students." One writes, "The cohort approach is excellent. I have built great relationships with my fellow students, and teachers are in tune with where classes stand in the learning process, making the flow from semester to semester seamless."

Bryant recently added a full-time one-year program. The first class graduated in 2010, and some members say of their experience, "Being the first year there were some kinks, but they have tried to put together a program that is not only academically beneficial but also gives us some real-world exposure."

Students note that "Bryant has a very good reputation" in the region. Professors "have industry experience, they are not only theoretical or academic," and most "are enthusiastic…the passion they exude filters throughout the class." Administrators "are very open and approachable. We recently voted on electives, and there is one that wasn't selected. Instead of being stuck, the dean is setting aside time to consider how we might be able to add the course. I've been very pleased that this type of response has been the norm [for] any issues that arise and not just a glowing example." Academically, "the environment is challenging, yet fair, and [students are] well-supported. It is a great investment." As one student sums up, "Overall Bryant is probably the best value MBA in New England outside of Cambridge/Boston. The campus is very clean and safe, the professors are all gray hairs with decades of experience in the real world, and the library and gym facilities are exceptional."

The Amica Center for Career Education serves the undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni of Bryant University. The office provides counseling services, assessment instruments, and workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and job- search skills. The Center maintains a career services library and facilitates contact with alumni through the school's Alumni Career Network. It should be noted that the Bryant MBA is designed for working professionals, many of whom are looking to improve their positions with their current employers rather than seeking new jobs. The school draws students from a number of local employers, including Amgen, Amica Mutual Insurance, Citizens Bank, Davol, Fidelity Investments, Gilbane Building Company, Perot Systems, Rogers Corporation, Stanley Bostich, Tyco Healthcare, and Zebra Technologies.

Located in "a safe rural setting," Bryant's campus is "beautiful and inviting, not too big but not too small." "All the buildings and grounds are maintained impeccably," one stu- dent reports. The campus is also "on the cutting edge of technology," with "every room completely equipped." Bryant has an active undergraduate campus life, but opinion is mixed on the extent to which Bryant MBAs take advantage. Some students observe that "Students in the graduate program are very removed from the undergraduate programs and students. For the most part, graduate students are not involved in campus life, although attendance is high at 'graduate only' events. Most graduate students do not get involved with campus organizations," though all this may change in coming years as the full-time, one-year MBA program expands. On the other hand, a student in the one-year program notes that "Life at Bryant is very community-focused. The school tries to involve all students in all activities, such as on-campus presenters, homecoming activities, etc."

Though the extent of graduate student involvement on campus might be up for debate, the on-campus diversity is not. There's "a really strong multicultural element" at Bryant. In the part-time program, "students range in age from early twenties to late fifties," and many have "more than ten years of business experience. The diversity of professional backgrounds brings an added element to the class, as we have many engineers in the program." Students tend to be "competitive" and "like to challenge one another to pro- mote and foster positive results. It's a very team-orientated program."